Contest Observers (Bii)

[Jean Kaitos]

notes: N/A || "Jean Speech" || Ilargi “Bii” Benigno

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Now when Jean had heard about the upcoming contest that would be occurring within the Redshore contest hall though there had been a very small part of Jean that had been considering taking part there had also been the greater part of the older woman who had instead been losing interest in such things recently - in all honesty the older Kaitos woman had not been all too sure why she had thought doing such things to begin with - but at the same time it did not mean that she didn't enjoy observing such things all the same. So needless to say this had been more than enough of a reason as far as the older woman were concerned to make the trip out here to Redshore early enough to join the crowds that would be entering the audience stands in order to watch, it had taken some time but Jean had eventually made her way up into the slowly filling stands and to a seat along with the small Pidgey that were within her arms and settling comfortably down ready for the performances to start.

Of course that would be a while on account of the fact that there would still be people filtering into the stands and it would seem as if there were some preparations still being made for the upcoming performances, it would certainly be wait the wait in her mind though right? Especially as there were always newcomers - whether coordinators themselves or not - who would come to take part and in truth Jean were looking forward to seeing any of those who were familiar and known to her, even if the chances were low from what she had been told. But she would just have to wait and see on that matter, until then the main issue that the woman would have would be to make sure the the shiny Pidgey would behave while climbing over her lap and the backs of the chairs in the immediate vicinity.

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[Ilargi “Bii” Benigno]

There were so many people…! Bii was grateful for the long dress and covering sweater she’d worn. It kept her from feeling anyone brush against on her on the occasion that things got too crowded. If there wasn’t a chance of Daniel entering, she wouldn’t have come. But, she wanted to be friends with the other gijinka and Nightlight admired him.

Inkwell hadn’t been rather cautious about sending Bii off with just the morelull outside of his pokeball to do this, but the shinx knew she couldn’t guard Bii alone forever. The deerling had to get used to the broader world and this was as good a time as any for it.

With Nightlight in her arms, Bii looked around for a place to sit. People were eager to find their seats and in the end, Bii just dove into one. There! She was seated! Done deal! Though, there was another person there already…!

Nervous, but trying to make the best of things, she brushed one of the twists she’d put her hair in out of her face. “H-Hello. I hope this seat wasn’t, um, you weren’t… it wasn’t for someone else…?”

The morelull, meanwhile, realized there was a flying type nearby. Instinctually, he was on edge. But, they were all trainers’ pokemon here. So, he was safe! Probably. So, he perked up and greeted the other. “Hi, hi, hi!! Here rooting for anyone in particular?”

[Jean Kaitos]

And it would not only be the young gijinka girl that would be somewhat surprised by the sheer amount of people that were starting to gather in the contest hall stands, granted it would be more than true that for the most part that the older woman were more used to crowds such as this but at the same time it were an entirely different perspective sitting up here rather than on stage. But this would be pushed from Jean's mind soon enough as she would rather curiously begin glancing around at the people were starting to get themselves settled for what were to come.

The older woman's attention would finally be tugged to the person who would come to sit in the vacant seat besides her, more so when the small pidgey that had been entertaining himself by climbing over the back of this seat would squark in a loud and slightly surprised manner at the diving motion of the individual that would come to sit there while tottering back over to his own humans lap.

So with a kind and reassuring smile would Jean turn her gaze towards the young woman who would come to sit besides her before shaking her head a little and responding. "Ohh don't worry, no one was sitting there yet anyway so your welcome to it." She offered gently.

The small Pidgey meanwhile would eventually upon the older woman's lap before finally coming to take note of the unusual pokemon that were within the company of the other and would begin tilting his head to one side. < Hello? Nope, don't think so - what about you? >

[Ilargi “Bii” Benigno]

Oh, thank goodness. Bii’s ears drooped in relief. If the seat had already been claimed, she would have had to deal with not only the embarrassment of that whole situation, but the hassle of getting up to find another seat. There were so many people now… Perhaps the contest would begin soon?

“Thank you,” she squeaked. “Um… Hi, my name is, is Bii.” There. She was getting better at being less formal at introducing herself. She smiled to punctuate her statement.

Happy that the flying type was civil, the morelull relaxed fully. “We’re here to support our friend Danny!” The little grass type’s beady eyes seemed to shine with glee and admiration. “He’s super cool! A very stylish coordinator!” Nightlight winked. “When you see him, you’ll be won over, too! We can be the first members of his fan club!”

Bii’s gray eyes darted down briefly. Could fan clubs be started that easily?

[Jean Kaitos]

notes: N/A || "Jean Speech" || Ilargi “Bii” Benigno

---

Now Jean would find herself keeping her near full attention fixed upon the young woman that would come to sit besides her, of course it were not to take much of an effort on her part to know what the newly introduced Bii was but the older woman sure as anything were not going to draw attention to that. Not when she got the distinct impression that there were the chance of her being less than uncomfortable around people, an issue she would know very well and all the reason that the older woman would keep a gentle smile upon her face and directed towards the younger girl.

"Your are more than welcome and it's a pleasure to meet you Bii. My name is Jean. Would she eventually come to offer in time and in as soft and kindly a manner that she could to avoid startling the girl.

NOw all the Pidgey would come to find himself doing after having shuffled over to settle back onto his own human's lap would be to turn his attention to the morelull when the odd little pokemon began chattering about the one that it and the other female were hear suporting, of course this would result in the bemused look of vague interest to form upon the birds face before responding. < I'll take your word on that, not so sure myself. Don't like joining things until I am sure about it and not straight away. > The bird spoke in a surprisingly firm way

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[Ilargi “Bii” Benigno]

Jean! Bii committed the name to memory.

Now… What to do until the appeals started? Bii looked toward the stage. They were doing things. She assumed it was to prepare. Oh, right! People chatted! That could be fun. Hopefully it would be fun. She pleaded for it to be fun. So, gathering her nerve, she looked from the stage far below and to the woman.

“This is, is my first time seeing a contest in, um, Shula… I heard there’s someone f-famous competing today…?” She looked again at the decorations. “The colors are pretty… So much pink…”

That firm rejection of Danny?! The morelull supposed it made sense, but still, there was a certain pride in being a fan of someone that drove the little guy to plead the third party’s case. “That’s fine. I get it. But, once you see him compete today, you’ll be won over!”

(Oh, what the poor fairy type didn’t know yet…)

[Jean Kaitos]

notes: N/A || "Jean Speech" || Ilargi “Bii” Benigno

---

And it would not only be Bii that would make the effort to ensure that she would be able to remember the name of the other, for Jean would certainly be ensuring that she made an effort also to make a mental note of the younger girl's own name for future reference for such a time that they may come into contact with each other in the future.

Now it would not only be the younger woman that were Bii who would come to find herself awkwardly looking around and continuing to observe the last few people making their way into the stands to take their seats as it would seem as if final preparations were also being made onstage for the first of the contestants, strange how one of her age would be feeling awkward like this but then again such things could affect anyone of any age right? It were only when Bii would make her admission regarding contests that a faint hint of surprise would come to pass over Jean's features for a short time before she would rather look politely curious. "Really, then I really hope you manage to enjoy watching it then. This is the first time I have watched a contest in the audience stands, normally I watch at home. And someone famous? Really? I have heard of a few of the more well known coordinators." Jean would find herself admitting in time before vaguely querying who Bii may be meaning.

"Yes, it's certainly a pretty choice of colours - forgive me if this sounds strange Bii but the colours are as pretty as you are young lady." Jean would find herself offering in a polite and kindly manner as she offered the younger female a gentle smile in time.

Now in the case of the small Pidgey male there were a part of the small bird that would in some manner understand that the Morelull would have their own opinions regarding their preferences and belief of the one the Morelull were speaking off was as good as they thought, this would be all that it took for the small bird to seemingly shrug a little. < Guess will see, will be interesting to see what happens. > The Pidgey mumbled.

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[Ilargi “Bii” Benigno]

Watching at home…? Bii felt embarrassed. She didn’t realize that was possible. She supposed that made sense. The news played events from far away and she knew there were sports channels, but the television was still needlessly confusing to her. The remote had too many options and there were all of those channels, not to mention options that were apparently their own thing with their own payments…

No, it was for the best that she indulged Nightlight’s wish to see Danny in person. Odd that they hadn’t seen sign of his name anywhere yet…

“It’s, um, Milarnie… B-But, there was also a girl named Aure—” Taken off guard by Jean’s words, Bii bleated. “Ah?”

Now, someone raised in polite society would response with that gratefully. A quick “thank you” could have resolved it. Even for the less secure, a common little, “Oh my gosh, no, you’re so pretty,” would have gone off smoothly. Bii, however, was as unsure of how to approach this situation as an infant with a glass bridge. So, with a befuddled blink, she tried her very best to ignore the comment and go on.

“Um, w-who have…? Have you heard of either of those two? Milarnie and, um, Aurelia, I mean.”

About this time, the lights began to dim. Everyone was settling in their seats. The contest would begin soon. So, eager and excited, the morelull settled into Bii’s lap and gave his pidgey opposite a final bit of encouragement. “You’ll see for sure.”

[Jean Kaitos]

Now of course Jean would overlook the embarressment in which would have come over the younger woman that were Bii, mostly on account of the fact that Jean herself would not have really been paying any attention to such a detail. and even if for whatever reason that she had noticed then there would have been no doubt that the older woman would have been politer to purposefully not make a big deal out of such a thing; For everyone had different experiances in life for different reasons did they not?

When the younger gijinka woman would begin to speak before cuting herself off mid sentance, there would be the faintest flicker of puzzlement that would pass over the older woman's features as she glanced to her younger counterpart for the longest of times with a hint of concern on her features. Had she? Maybe gone a little too far? Made Bii uncomfortable? MAybe a little both?

This would be all the reason for Jean to be observing and generally watching the other for a short time long with a faint hint of concern on her features, though the fact that Bii would seem to skip over such a thing would give Jean reason enough to not make any further comment or the like on the subject, rather focusing on her next words with a faint smile and a nod.

"Milarnie and Aurelia? Yes I have heard of those two and seen them perform. I presume you must had met those two then? to leave such an impression upon you I mean?" Jean responded and queried politely.

Attention drifting away from the Morelull for a time would the Pidgey himself begin to settle comfortably on his own trainer's lap before shifting gaze between his fairy 'friend' and the stage to nod his agreement; yes he would indeed ee.

[Ilargi “Bii” Benigno]

“Oh, no, I haven’t… I wouldn’t even know where to s-see them, I, just, the, the information at the front—”

The information Bii was speaking of was fans of the two. The Milarnie fans out numbered Aurelia’s lot, but that was to be expected with the star power that the older of the two had… Not that Bii knew that. She’d been taken by Aurelia’s fan’s little photos of the coordinator, but she’d been utterly floored by the adoration Milarnie drew. The woman was a gijinka. And, yet, people adored her.

She was living a good life, it seemed. It filled Bii with hope. If people like her and Daniel could have careers on stage, maybe anything was possible.

“It’s nice,” she struggled to explain, eyes on her twiddling thumbs. “T-To see someone l-like, like Milarnie on stage.”

As soon as she said it, she worried. She glanced at Jean from the corner of her eye. Maybe the human was just being polite in entertaining a conversation with Bii. Maybe the woman was simply too well mannered to shoo off a gijinka sitting beside her. But, that statement might be what prompted disagreement.

“T-To m-me, I mean,” she added, voice more unsteady with worry. “I understand if, if, um, it’s, to you, it isn’t e-exciting. ‘C-’Cause, um, she’s…”

She was lost on how to navigate the conversation now. She prayed for the first coordinator to come out and steal everyone’s focus.

[Jean Kaitos]

notes: N/A || "Jean Speech" || Ilargi “Bii” Benigno

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Alright so that were indeed understandable, for in truth Jean had only seen the pair of coordinators that she had mentioned maybe once or twice either live or on the television at some point but then again the young girls comment regarding the information at the front would make sense for Jean's gaze would soon turn to look towards where the two seperate crowds of fans of the two were in residence. "Yes thosetwo certainly have a great deal of fans don't they? That's not surprising, the same certainly seems to be the case with all those who have done well in contests yes? those two along with the others." Jean would find herself coming to agree.

Only when Bii would begin to speak and make attempts at explaining how it were nice to see someone like Milarnie on stage, even if there were no further explanation to go with such a thing Jean would still be able to understand her potential reasoning for such a thing. After all given the negativity in which often were aimed at gijinka even Jean could find herself being happy and glad to see such individuals doing well even despite what were otherwise aimed at them in the rest of their lives.

Though it would be the worried glance that wouldbe noticed that would be thrown her way that would get Jean turning her attention towards the younger girl before she would dare - assuming that she would be allowed to do such a thing = reach a hand out to gently pat Bi's hand in an attempted reassuring manner. In time giving Bii long enough to add in her further comment which were laced with understandable worry and all else associated with such, well who would truly be able to blame the young woman after all? For Jean certainly couldn't. "Dear Bii, I have nothing against gijinka at all. I am happy that there are those like Milarnie who are happy to do as she does during contests, as it stands I have children that are gijinka that I love dearly so I have nothing against you." Jean would make efforts to reassure, only here would the older woman would give her younger counterpart the time and space to gather herself as it would begin to become obvious that the first of the contestants were being prepared for.

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[Ilargi “Bii” Benigno]

A hand reaching for her. Bii’s well trained reaction was to go still and silent. A pat. She was being patted on the hand. She stared at the action in terror and awe. It felt pleasant; comforting, even. She wanted to, in equal measure, snatch her hand away and to also ask for it elsewhere. The top of her head and her back seemed like it might be nice.

Patted. She’d been patted.

The words were equally as stark, wonderful, and bewildering as the kind gesture had been. For a moment, Bii wondered if she was having a moment. She had been doing well lately, very present in reality. Nothing had hurt her so severely as to invoke the need for this sort of dreamed comfort. So, cautiously and with a large lump of guilt, she decided to indulge in this.

Perhaps it was only something she was imaging to help her get through something she would see the aftermath of when she returned to reality. Maybe she had actually this sort of person. The former seemed more likely, yet she hoped it was the latter all the same.

“Really?”

That was all she had time to ask before the lights went down for the first appeal. It was a flying type? Some white haired man came out, but Bii could hardly keep her focus on them. This lady liked gijinka. And, she was a mother to gijinka. But, how? Was she like Daniel’s mother? Or… Or…

Nightlight pouted in Bii’s lap. He’d briefly noticed the tension, but saw that Jean handled it smoothly. Thus, he was content to let the two talk it out. He had other things to content with, like the fact that wasn’t Daniel up on the stage. There were only three other coordinators left to show their stuff!! What if none of them were Danny?! ‘Cause, Nightlight just realized he hadn’t seen the boy’s name anywhere!

[Jean Kaitos]

notes: N/A || "Jean Speech" || Ilargi “Bii” Benigno

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Though of course Jean's reaction and natural action had been without her having thought about the potential ramification's of such a thing; for after all she should have known well enough just how dificult life as a whole was for anyone who were a gijinka and Arceus only knew what each had gone through and their various experiances. Jean knew such a life were not exactly an easy one even if different individuals had different negative experiances, this were just what would cause the older woman to subconciously flinch at her moment of impulsiveness.

The almost neutral - whether such were forced or not - reaction that Bii would come as a result of her own action however would be more than enough to peak Jean's mild curiosity and a certain amount of uncertainty also, but at the same time given there were no indication of the younger female otherwise telling her or making it clear she should refrain from such things did the older woman just push such thoughts aside.

After all for all Jean would know she may have pushed things a little too far so this would be the very reason for the older woman to retract her hand - though in a slow and careful manner in order to avoid causing any alarm to the younger woman. The simple and one worded query cast her way would be more than enough to cause a soft and gentle chuckle to escape Jean as she tilted her head to one side slightly before she would eventually offer the smallest of nods of confirmation before she would answer. "Yes really, more than really." Jean would simply agree.

Well, what else could she say? Probably a whole lot more but between the lights going dim and the first of the contestants coming forth and no further questions to be forth coming at the moment this were a good time to just allow Bii to process all that she needed to corect?

Now when the lights had gone dim in the case of the small shiny Pidgey would snap his head up from where he had been preening himself and begun to make great efforts to gain a better vantage point of the performnace going on below, the mere fact that it would seem to be a flying type of some manner performing were certainly more than enough to fascinate the small bird to the point where he would seem to begin ruffling his feathers somewhat excitedly.

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[Ilargi “Bii” Benigno]

She’d mulled it over during the entirety of Susanna Rosenbaum’s appeal. Nightlight, meanwhile, found it all too subtle.

“They just kinda moved around together,” the morelull complained. He looked to the pidgy, noticed the ruffled feathers, and corrected himself. “I mean, uh… It was, um, tasteful. What did you think?”

Next was Milarnie! As they allowed a brief clean up between acts (and Bii caught the order of appeals remaining: Clover and Aurelia) the gijinka gathered her nerve. She stared at the knuckles of both her hands, which were curled atop her knees. She couldn’t bring herself to look Jean in the eye even if she was desperately curious about the woman. A mother who liked gijinka! A mother of gijinka children who liked gijinka!

“H-How many… children do you, um, have…?” And, then, added more shyly: “Are they a-all gijinka? Having gijinka siblings sounds… nice.”

She was shy now, not frightened or uncertain. What a strange, inviting idea that was presented before her. She wanted to ask a million questions. Did Jean go to the grocery store? Did she have a job? Did her children go to school? Did they have picnics and fold the laundry together? All of the mundane things sounded enchanting…

But, she had to keep up her appearances as Ilargi Benigno, and Ilargi Beningo had a family. Those things would not be fascinating to a ranger from Almia. But, to a ranger who had suddenly found herself non-human, the idea of other family like herself… Yes, curiosity in that could be permitted.

It was an acceptable lie.

[Jean Kaitos]

notes: N/A || "Jean Speech" || Ilargi “Bii” Benigno

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And in truth it would not only be the equally small Morelull that would be unimpressed by the initial appeal that would play out before them and conducted by the pale haired man that had previously been introduced as one Susanna Rosenbaum - granted it were more than true that it was not an entirely awful display to be seen but there certainly did seem to be missing about it. Of course the main and only issue that the small Pidgey would have would be the very fact that he would not be able to put a finger - well, more accurately a wing / talon - upon just what the small shiny bird didn't like about it, namely on account of the fact that he could not claim to know a thing about contests so it were tough to tell.

It would in no way mean that the small bird wouldn't be making some form of effort to study what were going on upon the stage far below where the small bird, this would be part of the reson for the small bird ruffling his feathers and the slight frown that would have long since come to form upon the small birds featurea and would remain there for what seened an eternity before turning to look upon the fairy type around the same time the other smaller pokemon would have spoken. < Tastfully boring - that what you really mean yes? It didn't seem like much but it was something unusual to watch yes? > The small Pidgey male threw back after a while in a faintly curious manner.

Now where it came to Jean she would be making efforts to purposefully avoid staring upon the younger female that was Bii, both because she were curiously watching all that would come to pass upon the stage during and between perfomances but also because of the fact that she did not wish to make her younger gijinka companion uncomfortable through staring upon her for any extended period of times. Or at least not until questions would be put her way causing the older motherly woman to turn while smiling gently to look upon her younger counterpart, head tilted to one side before she began to answer.

"Nine, I have nine children. Seven boys and two girls and yes - all of them are gijinka. You don't have any siblings? That's a shame, but I guess not uncommon at times." Jean would respond and query gently.

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